Gold Coast Technology Industry

In my early to mid thirties, I lived on the Gold Coast and as I was in Marketing in the technology sector, became heavily involved. When I talk involved, I mean involved.

I ran the IT Awards, was the Secretariat for all IT Industry Associations Board that talked directly to government on industry based issues, spoke at universities and schools on careers in IT, and founded industry group e-Women and so on.

Deeply entrenched in the IT industry, I could see no other sector that particularly tickled my fancy.

Now, years later, I am back here and whilst I have been working in other industries, it still remains dear to my heart.

I have gone on the IT Gold Coast Committee as Treasurer and I represent the association on the combined industries board. I am passionate about the buzz that surrounded the industry here 10 years ago that has diminished. I believe that it could be the epicentre of the Australian IT industry.

When companies want to expand to Australia, why not choose the Gold Coast. It’s beautiful - beaches, people, homes, lifestyle. It really doesn't get much better. I feel blessed everyday I wake up to the water views I have from my home and the spectacular weather. At 5am in the morning, I hop on my computer, check my emails, have a coffee and peer over what I believe is one of the most beautiful views I have ever seen.

If companies are worried about there not being enough people here in the IT sector - don't be alarmed. There are solutions. I know recruitment companies sitting in South Africa, America and the UK that have an abundance of people dying to live in Australia - and IT isn't like marketing, you don't need to know the market or be connected.

I challenge Google or Microsoft to go against the norm and set up their offices here, where the sun shines, the waves splash against the shores and the people are so friendly.

Oh, and I almost forgot. The government is helpful. They go out of their way to attract businesses to the area. The Gold Coast City Council Economic Development Unit is accessible and they have a can-do approach.

I couldn't be happier. I have a digital marketing company located here on the Gold Coast and it is going great guns. Why? Because everyday, people love to come to work in the best city in Australia.

http://www.marketingeye.com.au

$10 per day websites - To discount or not?

Brainstorming ways to generate more sales in the current economic times is a daily ritual for those who work at Marketing Eye. Our last quarter was still strong, but could have been better - like everyone else in the consulting game.

The latest, or more precisely, today's great idea is $10 per day websites over 12 months interest free. Now I personally have a problem with this, as it's the same product that we give clients who pay $8,000 for a website and they have to pay upfront.

Whilst we offer small to medium sized businesses a Marketing Manager for $24,000 per year*, we don't normally discount and this is more than 50% off the normal price.

We say, 'everybody needs a marketing eye, but not everyone has one' and we feel the same way about websites. Everybody needs one but not everyone has one or at least, has one that people see.

For us, it's like the first entry into marketing your business successfully after developing your brand.

We are not alone when it comes to discounting in the area of professional services. According to Raintoday.com, discounting is the norm.

61.4% of professional services firms report that they discount their fees from their internally standard or externally published rate or fee structure.
38.6% report they do not ever discount.

Marketing Eye does not discount its fee structure at all, but areas that are add-on's, we regularly review on a client-by-client basis. The reason being is that if the company we work with doesn't have a good brand, has a bad website, or doesn't understand the value of public relations, sometimes we have to lead the way and show them the benefits by actually giving it to them at a price that is too good to refuse. If they don't have these things, how can we market their businesses?

Should companies be discounting in the current climate?

To trial this promotion, we are focusing on companies in the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Townsville, Rockhampton and Cairns.